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outback queensland: general info
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It's often said that Australians will bet on anything, including two flies crawling up a wall.
But it's also true that they will race anything, and in the Outback they race everything.
Lizards, camels, crayfish and yabbies, you name it. Oh, and don't forget the horses, of course.
Perhaps one of the most bizarre things Queensland Outback locals race are dunnies, or more precisely, outhouses.
The Great Dunny Derby, as it's called, is raced every two years in Winton in the Central West as part of the town's Outback Festival.
Each team consists of four people who each pick up a corner of the dunny and a fifth is in the driver's seat on the, ahem, throne.
If you don't believe this then we have it on good record that Kingfish Crapper is a past champion.
If it's all a bit unsanitary then why not settle for a seemingly-normal-by-contrast crayfish race instead.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg. They race lizards in Eulo and yabbies in Kajabbi.
These events are usually held once a year and attract huge crowds of people seeking fun in the Outback sun.
Some of the more famous outback racing events include the Birdsville Races (horses, strangely enough) in September and the Boulia Camel Races in July.
Each event attracts crowds in their thousands. In terms of the Boulia camel races, the event has a business side as sheiks from the Middle East come over to investigate camel breeding possibilities.
When attending these events it seems the whole Outback has come to socialise and place a bet or two. It's a time to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.
Apart from the more unusual events, most Outback towns run annual picnic horse race events, mainly between April and September.
Visitors will find these events as fun as they are eye-opening - a great way to feel the real Outback spirit as the locals enjoy themselves.
You haven't done Queensland until you've done an Outback racing carnival.
If you're gonna travel abroad, make sure you are prepared... take it from us, travel insurance is an absolute must!
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